2021 is, so far, off to a good start. One could say I'm cautiously optimistic.
And, since today was a warm day for a Saturday in January in Winnipeg, my family and I ventured outdoors for a walk at a nearby forested trail. Apparently, we weren't the only ones that had the idea; the place was bustling, overflowing with activity. And, though the wind was fairly brisk in your face, it was something else that struck me cold while we were out: given the current pandemic, I am no longer comfortable in groups of people like we encountered today.
Now, we weren't clumped together or anything, but it was undeniably eerie. Unsettling. Anxious. Or, it was for me anyways. A substantial number of people had taken to wearing masks outdoors. Whether it's for peace of mind, or a warm face, I do not pretend to know. But the contrast between those that were and those that weren't was striking.
In many respects, I hate that this is what life has become - a cycle of avoidance, of fear of our fellow citizen. But 2021 is upon us now, and with it, undoubtedly, better things come with it.
With any luck, by this time next year, this will all be a faint memory, a thing of the past. An experience confined to the pages of a history book, if you will. But in the meantime, the lived experiences remain incredibly real, undoubtedly present, and will pop up at the most unexpected times.
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